kinkchaser

I would like to thank all those contributing to this topic with well thought out points, this is a subject,we all will have to learn more on. Just wondering in the future, if a Department adopts these concepts and their neighbors haven't yet been converted, how will .a mutual aid fire play out ?

The beauty of unmarked take home cars, only the most astute buffs recognize these vehicles.

I think Robert Benz summed it up in real life terms

.SORRY, IT WAS 585, MY MISTAKE

What 635 also asked in the original post , do you respond lights and sirens to a relocation ?? New question, is it ever proper ?

Now that many have adequate fireground handi-talkies for use at a fire scene, thus not interfering with the dispatch frequency and visa versa, why at a routine fire must mutual aid companies switch to a county channel if these units have compatablity with the local frequency. Doing this the relocated units have no idea what is going on with the fire and what to expect unless they constantly switch the radio and the folks at the fire have no idea what is going on in the rest of the City unless they do the same.. Certainly, a massive event with many units coming in, a common frequency would be warranted

Seeing this great job done by the Mail Man using a garden hose, reminds me of something we use to do back "in the day" . We use to carry a 25ft length of garden hose rolled tight and strapped, with a nozzle on one end and a universal fitting on the other, this fitting looked like a chrome Venus fly trap with an adjustable rubber mouth that could fit over most household facets, sinks or bath tubs. The purpose of this was to hold a fire until the line got up to you or if you arrived without an engine. It sort of went the way of the Buffalo, however I still thought it was a good idea. Might have problems now with the elaborate decorative facets. Also, with these new expandable garden hoses seen on TV this concept might return

It was part of the plot line in HOMELAND knocked off the VP in that fashion as payback for this fictional character ordering drone strikes, he was CIA chief .

Some of the boxes had a telegraph key inside that you could send back signals to the dispatcher as to the disposition of the alarm and request additional units, this handy before apparatus radio. If you had a fire and things were not going well, the chief would tap out a request for a second on the telegraph key.(Front of the box opened to rewind and reset and access to the key if so equipped) Also, some places had a hard card inside telling what units were assigned to this box all the way up to the fifth alarm..

Chief Raftery, you failed to mention the horses started to come out of their stalls after the first didgit

I wished you were right 635, but the best candidate is no longer part of the dynamic

Went to the funeral at St.Patrick's and to see the Avenue packed with people and the endless sea of blue representing Fire Fighters from seemly all over the world was amazing, the unforgettable sight of the coffins coming down Fifth Ave in formation on brand new Mack pumpers has stayed with me to this day. For students of Firefighting much can be learned from this fire. There is a book out "23rd Street Fire " well worth the read

Wait, down the road a few years from now and see the requirement to have various years of college for promotion to various FD ranks go out the window.

Sounds like last nights fire in Thornwood at the school would fit in this catagory

791075 is correct, the length of a " Great Lake Greenie" indicated the amount of resources needed for fire extinguishment

One Adam 12

A fire that certainly keeps with our topic was the " Pelham Manor Invitational " hosted by their newly minted Fire Chief. This fire was in a large "L" shaped non fire proof, multiple dwelling of six stories on Boston Post Road near the New Rochelle Border. The fire got into the top floor and a very deep unbroken cockloft, initial efforts where hampered by wooden roof decking built over the original roof to form a large patio, for penthouse dwellers, which frustrated initial venting and quick trench cutting. The reason I mention this, as this is going to become more common as people start to use roofs for leisure purposes and the increase of "green buildings" which will have gardens etc. on the roof. Not only causing venting headaches but tremendous weight not planned on, adding to an early collapse. But the "Pelham Manor Invitational", was just that, few Westchester Departments were not present and FDNY sent a full third alarm mutual aid assignment. I wonder how many different hose threads were involved ?

OK -Back on topic-How about the huge fire in White Plains, when a propane tractor trailer struck a bridge abutment and exploded setting structure fires on both sides of the interstate in residential neighborhoods, now that produced enough fire for everyone, sometime in the 90's

The Captain was great when in played in Homicide about the Baltamore City PD, however one would wonder how Andy Sandberg's character could have even gotten a gold shield in the NYPD

FirNaTine is correct when standards and common sense are thrown out the window or politics enters, when vetting new canidates to career fire departments. It is important not to compromise as it is not fair to the F.D-citizens and the candidate' Poor hirings will bite you in the arse down the road sooner or later. All believe in giving folks a chance and perhaps a second chance but not in Public Safety where the stakes are too high.

The Chief of any Combined Regional or Countywide Fire Department hasn't been born yet

Chief Raftery, really has a "salty" look since he moved. .Looks like one of those Chiefs we use to be afraid of,

I found out many years later, when speaking with the gent, that one of the Port Chester vollies that fought the above mentioned Chatsworth Avenue fire was the celebrated ABC News Washington correspondent and often Presidential debate moderator Hal Bruno. Hal was until his passing one of the great champions of the Fire Service and officiated at many Fire related events.His DC influence was of great help with pro fire legislation. If I recall, he related a story about being injured at this fire or overcome, as this wouldn't be a surprise, as this was still a time when Scotts were kept in suitcases. Now just over the bridge from the Chatsworth fire was the Larchmont business district that burned very frequently during the 1970's and into the 1980's with some huge taxpayer and multiple dwelling fires, again before LDH so lots of 2.5 supply lines stretched for blocks, plenty of fire for a generation of Sound Shore firefighters during this period in just a few blocks.

There was one fire that was massive and I believe the year was 1967 or 68, this fire was located at 14 North Chatsworth Ave in the Town of Mamaroneck, the building is equivilent to seven story building and had a huge footprint and fully occupied. The fire turned out to be so devastating that units from Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, White Plains, Port Chester, Larchmont, TMFD, Village of Mamaroneck, Harrison to name a few, all responded and a record number of Ladder pipes were in use. This being before large hose, you could imagine the amount of 2 1/2 in. spaghetti from hydrants far and near, to supply all these master streams. As I recall a week day mid afternoon fire in winter with a terrible number of folks dispossessed

The Neptune system is not a Fire truck but a large POD with a huge pump inside it can pump more than 5,000 GPM thru 12 in. hose for a distance of a mile. Under a perfect scenario it could have hooked up at the Bay and pumped across the width of Seaside to the Boardwalk. But perhaps the Jersey Boys can fill us in with better information on this system which was not only considered for firefighting but moving water to area without water for what ever reason.